"Who is his brother-in-law?"
Emperor Mingde widened his eyes, staring at the trembling eunuch before him.
The eunuch, thinking of what he was about to say, felt as though his head was about to part ways with his neck.
"Young General Gu... Young General Gu said his brother-in-law is a man of striking appearance, the most eye-catching figure in any crowd."
Emperor Mingde instantly flushed with rage.
How could that brat from the Gu family have the audacity to mock him at a time like this, when matters of war were at stake?
"Your Majesty, Young General Gu is still young. Since it's his brother-in-law..." Cheng Guang's breath hitched, "it's almost certainly Yu Fan."
Emperor Mingde took a few steps back in disbelief. How could the Gu family possibly marry their daughter to a commoner with no official rank?
"Gu Mingning was supposed to be guarding the northern frontier. Why would he appear here?" The emperor found it utterly baffling.
"Your Majesty," the eunuch, still basking in the joy of having kept his head, snapped back to attention upon hearing the emperor's words. "They say Young General Gu's sister is with child, so he came personally to escort her, fearing for her safety."
"The Gu family has backed itself into a corner," Emperor Mingde spat viciously. "Acting on selfish whims and mobilizing troops without authorization—mark my words, the Emperor of Daqi won’t let Gu Mingning get away with this!"
No ruler could tolerate such defiance from a military commander.
The thought seemed to soothe Emperor Mingde’s fury somewhat.
"Your Majesty, we must release Yu Fan and his men immediately," Cheng Guang urged anxiously. "Fortunately, the tigers haven’t been released into the mountains yet. There’s still room to maneuver."
"What? Are you saying I can’t touch the Gu family’s son-in-law?"
At these words, Cheng Guang nearly fainted.
Why was His Majesty being so unreasonable now?
"Your Majesty!" Cheng Guang dropped to his knees. "Da Yue is in no state to endure a war right now. If Gu Mingning dares to march his troops to our gates, he dares to invade!"
"This humble official begs Your Majesty to send Yu Fan and his men back to Daqi."
"You—!"
Emperor Mingde paced furiously around the hall before finally letting out a heavy sigh.
"Send them back to Daqi."
He would give himself three years. In three years, he would personally lead an invasion of Daqi!
......
Inside the cave.
The guards had given no food to Yu Fan and the others, leaving them all starving.
"Eat, quickly."
Yu Fan pulled out several dry biscuits from his robes and spoke softly.
"Master Yu, how did you...?" The others stared at him in astonishment.
"My mother always said to carry rations when traveling far," Yu Fan replied with a faint smile.
He rose silently and followed the sound of flowing water deeper into the cave.
Where there was water, there might be another exit.
The others quickly finished their biscuits and began searching as well, resting at night and resuming at dawn.
The next day, Yu Fan found an extremely narrow exit.
"Go one by one."
Once everyone was out, Yu Fan leisurely rolled a large boulder to seal the exit completely.
Thus, when the order to release Yu Fan’s group reached the mountain, the assassins entered the cave only to find it empty!
Even these men, who cared little for life or death, panicked.
The news reached Emperor Mingde layer by layer, sending him into a rage.
"How could they just disappear?"
"Your Majesty, the assassins reported that the cave’s terrain is complex, with no other exits. There’s a deep pool inside—perhaps they jumped..." Cheng Guang felt utterly wretched. "Right now, we must think of how to appease Gu Mingning’s wrath."
He didn’t even have the energy to mention what would happen if that old fox Gu Zheng learned his grandson’s father had died in Da Yue...
Only then did Emperor Mingde truly panic.
"Grand Chancellor, do you have a solution?"
"Offer Daqi free grain."
Cheng Guang’s heart bled at the word "free."
......
That night, a secret letter reached Gu Mingning.
"General, is it news from Master Yu?"
Gu Mingning smirked. "That kid—worthy of being my brother-in-law!"
What nerve!
The letter was passed around to the other officers, who fell into stunned silence after reading it.
Who would’ve thought that the Gu family’s son-in-law not only escaped captivity but also took over a bandit stronghold, planning to stay in Da Yue under their guise?
When war broke out the following year, he would strike from within, coordinating with their forces.
Brilliant!
"General, with Master Yu’s help, next year’s battle is already won!" The officers grinned. "Countless Daqi lives will be spared."
"If we win, Yu Fan will have earned a great merit!" Gu Mingning’s lips curled. By then, the kid could finally return to the northern frontier to see his family.
Poor Ming Liu, though.
"General, what do we do now?" another officer asked. "Da Yue can’t produce the men—they’re surely scrambling for a way to make amends."
"What does the northern frontier lack most?" Gu Mingning scanned the group.
"Grain," they answered in unison.
"Then demand grain!"
......
Days later, Da Yue’s city gates creaked open, and Cheng Guang himself came forward to negotiate with Gu Mingning.
"What? A mere envoy’s return warrants the Grand Chancellor’s personal attention?"
Cheng Guang’s forced smile nearly cracked. "Old"?
Who taught this brat to be so venomous?
At the same time, far in the capital, Song Yu and Shen Qingping sneezed loudly.
"Young General Gu, Master Yu’s party was ambushed by bandits on a mountain path. We sent men to search, but... they were never found." Cheng Guang feigned grief while studying Gu Mingning’s reaction.
"Never found?"
Gu Mingning’s blade was at Cheng Guang’s throat in an instant. "Are you telling me my brother-in-law vanished in Da Yue?"
"We are equally devastated by this tragedy," Cheng Guang stammered nervously. "Please lower your sword."
"My sister is with child."
"Young General Gu, His Majesty wishes to make amends. We’ve prepared grain for Daqi to ease your hardships. Surely..."
At the mention of grain, Gu Mingning’s blade loosened slightly. "How much?"
"Every cart you see here."
Gu Mingning glanced at the convoy, then tapped Cheng Guang’s shoulder with the flat of his sword.
"Grand Chancellor, grain as compensation is acceptable—but Daqi won’t take food from the mouths of Da Yue’s common folk. We want the grain from your officials’ stores."
"Record every sack taken from each official’s estate and deliver it in two days."
Gu Mingning’s smile turned icy. "Or we settle this on the battlefield."
What kind of men stole from their own people?
